
£VT\ 11190X1 


(on 5 


I 5 


anc We 




Qass 

Book 









.4 





V 


♦ 



- 




I' 


[ 

i.' 



i . 


V 

f' 

I 


n- 



I 


if 




« 

i 

> 


K y y. ' 


I 




' y* . ' 


« 






•« 



> 


« i 


’’ •».. '.•n 


V 


• V.; 





s 


•,y 

' I •' 




\ 


« 






t » 


k 







f 





> «,- 


✓ 


V 




V . 


r 








.'i 


4 


I 



t 


m 


3 


i 



t 

I 


» 


# - 



I' 


I 


I**’ 


< 

/ 



V 



4 




f 



k' 


t • 


« 






»* • 

> 


I 


k 


Im» 








\ 



'fM 








» 

i 


# 




y 



.y 


r 


4 




• I' 










1 


1 




THH DIRECTION IN AVHICH 


MAYAN INSCRIPTIONS SHOULD BE READ 


BY 


LKWIS W. GUNCKEL 


[Fhom Ti!K Amkrioan ANTiiKoroLOGiST Kou May, 1897] 



\VASHINGT<)N, I). C. 

JUDD A DBTWKILEIt, IMtlNTEIW 





. r 


■ : 



’’ ^ ■■ ' <■'"' ^ ^-'y •^/‘',.'r:*', 

- ’**' ' ^'' ''■'■ ■ -■'■'iV 





■•r •--. ,. 

-’ *” >) ' 

’r ' ; / 'Ti '’'j. 


ri ’r ' ; 'Ti .-^v'. 

• ' V. 'A , • ^ ^ 

■■'■' .t V . Jv.S, ■* ■•>■' /■•' , 

•' y .1 




I 'r ' 

/ * w. 


•^.V."r'-- 

,£' - 


■\ 


• 'J* 






i >' - |. : V . 

.. , • - ''■•-■ • ., . '■ r- /^.-^ - 

'^yy'W^^y' -^^':yr-y:^\ ■ y:Ay -yy ^- - - 

r ',V-.-; •■ ;’'\x ^ y ^>rv 7 ^ r -:: :' . ;'■ V ■.■.\: 


S' _ 


•-i/---'.'. ‘- ■■'•' ' -X " / ' '\'^-.l '■ 

iy ; ^ , .' '■• '•'■ r • . /.,' ■ -: . 


1 ' 




1 /.,•■«- -:' . ■■ - ;.. -JA • ■'. j. K-•- .,^•■ 'y / ••-' . ■.>- - - ' 

. \ (p- ■ '* yyy^yyy'^. 'Hyr-y:\<:t- r ,k ; ■ ' a. '-r ■ ^ 

' ■ ■ \'V / ■ ■P. 

- p;''^ 'PyyPP-^;^ 

- .... "-.-c.-r _ •-■. ■■ / .'t. ■■,•.> -_ ,• • . - A - A’-' t ■' ■- p''. J"-*. . •-: 


! ‘.'V 


' ■ ■ yv-P^^'V.\'V'/ ' pp-^. ■ 

- p;''^ >P 'PyyPP-^;^ 

' -.,. • ■p-c.'VA - '•'• '■ - «P”^- -. ■• • • - >'vS» * ■' -r - ■ . ' A’-' t ■' ■- p''. J"-:, . 

y PvPN^:^t 

P ‘^'-' '-V-Y. p,-'., -KpVpp>^4. '..■,■--••••''^p :• rp.-. ■■ '/->'■ p- 

’^'t' / K^]' ^ ‘ Pi* ■*' ’ ■ V- ^ t ' .{"-••'’’P' •-V ■ ' ‘a,." V • V'-.fy ' 

\P: y;.pp >- P "'".. y 

'P^P '',7^ P'-P P?p< ."P 


p^^-p- p;^ p .'.-p^. ^ :£ 




P->‘r,:^ 


^ . . Ti 




;■'- P/- 


■ . - ^ V 

■■ ^■. 


P-.r-'-r-'i' 

, ■\' \yy ^ 

. .f'. ,: 




.H •- 


*P 


• *" • .V ' • ‘' 

••'i-fVj • . ' .... - ,',.■). ’'* 'S' '■ . ■•' r»<. “S'- '■‘■X ■ (.' ■ 

Pfi ■ •„ .. .' ■,.. .,v-. ' c ■ tX'x I-"' 

K '0- ‘ -^y « .' 1* r-’’ ' • •V >. ,-^.' 

- - .. P'-' '• fv.'-- .i -'P -• ,,''PP..,-... •r'.. • ;-.y ■ 

rPP.- ■■ .. P -. / ^ ■ -pP.-pPVp: V" .'J. ,iV.*;-p.>?^..,./pP^ V “'-P 

y j'^y-y'y ' ■■ ■■' '~-y y.-'■ •.■''x.x ■■'-P'to .“x- ■" ' ■''<■'■■ '■ “■' '■'* X' 

yy-A-^yy. ,'•P-ppi>'‘p'#'.-p-“''fe -p.'.' '■ '-p'-^- ■ 

PvP’ P:^fcP ‘ r’■■ -p. .ypppPx,^PO' '.' ■■ /x-, .y" 

P:^'.:pPP;p^x •'■■ -'P.o-Pv;xVP^v^pPP' Pcp 'V : 
x:xx■y^x:Pv/^,.x-^.-^.p:px|:pi-prx. -px X;. . 'x p- 

I^P: : ■ ' ■..:';:x .■ ■ .. . 'vX', ^r.x ..-^ 

S^V.-X-'’ ■■ . , ■ '^ ^•''' ■iX^XXi'X'- X, ( .' ; . •y.-X''•■'P ^ 

..'■." . X^X-. - .■■ ' ' ■■■,., -t t, X.X'-.V 

.‘'' 1-' P". ■'“-'. *'P, 1 '-■' . '. '-;■ '•^ ^ ^ j<--' ■••' ' ■ .'‘/y*y 



• •'* -.’J* '- , ' 


\ ■ ■ .■•.«. .M. 

.. .» Y*. •' . 

.; p ' 


'p 


’r* 


I, 

Sr 

• -'»* V \ 

. ' 'X ■ •• V . • 

.I- r;- 


y<. 

- ■ ■ v s 

..» d ^ - •■ . 

■«'■ \ 

'Xe-" •V‘>>' 

y 

•rp^V' 

. / 

\ -y; V: 

.• .. X.' •5 .'4 

•<M." . 'JP' 


'.V.>:‘ 

' • Z'^- X/1;^ r. 

• ‘r A- 


ri.. 

v“ *, .A.^'-V 


XX '~ ‘ 

'r*V^-i ■ - ;. 'P- 
'' * • 

\ . i^J . •* 


i^f 

'y <' '■• 


■ y. . - 

.x"v': 


-• r X^ 


'A 


r; 4 .. -p '• r : : 


t ; '. 

? "' ^ 


; ■ •-*.‘V.\;">-' S- 


P\. 


s. 


V '•p-' 

:-••'>•■ X 
/ '• 


■ ^ 






r’ - 

v.x .' 

>y^ ^ z^: 

i'Cy '-pp p 

X '> Xf ' - ^ 

V.'- . 

x't'-; ■. ■ X' •'*•• 

y..*r .pp p.. .' '■ ' ■■ '. X p 

■■X p>>.; 

?■ P.x ■ ••-■- 


•• • jf •“ ^ • 

' y " c ■ ■■ ■''■ ^ 

■ c c . ' y ■ e J - r~ ■ 

< <- ^c- ■ x.. ■■ ■ ■■' X 

< c t . 

< p ' yyf-s^^-, - 




■( 


1 J~ '■■\ 


.■'V, 


P ‘ '.-X • 


- ^ i’ . 

' ■■'.’■* fc;P'‘‘'-P -•'. -• ^ '.r 

iPp'PPi-'' ... -,, 

y.X-Xp'P'j^fS XX c,.. 


.xPxp^ 


V 


• t 


t-y-yy :■■■ xx.-x 

■-X.':^. : ,• '‘-X .>. ' X..- • , 

J-Xyx'x 

y X' . • ^ X- X ; . - X,..':- 

'p;pp X..-A,x-'X- 

"-'P..'' . s -PP' ' -P ‘V'vP,-'* -/'-P 
Pf..^- 1.^ r* '. . • . - ■'■; •',' • .Pv..>• ^ V.• p ..-• /’ . 

'P'-V V % •' P^-' > ■' ••' • ’ ' w ... ,S, ..V 

■ ■ir.xy,,. --y^-ry-y,.,^- :'... ...x-- -• 

^ P f A-< '-*. Y 


pv“»p y ..j . 

p.-- p- '‘ , ., 

■' y - -.p p 

...•■'P PP.v- 


•'> 


• . 


.'• ‘ ' , •/ *•• 

-■ X. ....■•'. V Pv ' '■. -"- • . • -.. »P' ■ ' ■.-^* ' • ': 

"'•■ y ■ ■ -.. . .'.• . - ■ »• 'x - •' ‘ 

. p X' / ■ -;. . ; .-^vv;t.'; .' • A' ' X -^ ■ / -'x-;- '*•:■' • ’P- 

'' .■X 'V 'X,.- >/'. y-yM xl^y.. r -P -;. .. 

■v.-x. 'PP .'X ■x...-PX,i.- .fP^X'.. ," r-X 

■'Xpx'- ■■''-••X.X'--'a' ''-’r'X-X.X.; **X>>X' yy r X 


•< 


r./ 

\ 

> '/ 




- 


p -vp;'; .-;>>.:.vs;-^ p. ■': • ■ p-^- - • ■■- py ■, 

^rP-s. .’i‘> ■■: P '-i’* ' ■ /-''PP-i'x . ''P>v" 

m^mm^^3yyyyy ^yy> 


p:f^ 


r 


■ -S 

V. 


^ f - <i ■^'- 

’ V 


, - • ■ • ’ Ma. 

Vl„--'XW ' -.y- 

«■/ .ttn*CQEl> * ' ....■'.' 


/ 

I 

V 


THE DIRECTION IN WHICH MAYAN INSCRIPTIONS 
SHOULD BE READ 

LEWIS W. GUNCKEL 

It is extremely interesting to trace back the struggles of a race 
or nation of people in their first efforts and endeavors to raise 
themselves from a state of abject barbarism up to a scale of semi¬ 
civilization, entirely separated and uninfluenced by any sur¬ 
rounding culture or enlightenment. 

Such was the unique position of the ancient Maya race, whose 
strange monuments, temples, and bas-reliefs are found so fre¬ 
quently throughout Chiapas, Yucatan, Tabasco, Guatemala, and 
western Honduras. Undoubtedly the most interesting of these 
ancient monuments are the strange mural inscriptions, tablets, 
and records of this unique aboriginal American civilization, the 
correct interpretation of which is yet to be demonstrated, we 
trust, by some future Champollion. 

Many attempts have been made to read these inscriptions, both 
in this country and abroad, but the results so far obtained are 
entirely unsatisfactory. One essential point must first be decided 
on before entering into a detailed study of the inscriptions of 
Central America, and that is how the characters are to be read, 
from the left to the right or the reverse, up or down in columns, 
or in double columns. This has always been a puzzling ques¬ 
tion, for we find the katuns or cartouches arranged in rectangular 
blocks or tablets, in horizontal and vertical lines, and in right 
angles facing in opposite directions. One would naturally as¬ 
sume that to decide on this important question before we have 
succeeded in interpreting the characters and general significance 
of the graven inscriptions would be a useless task. Such, how¬ 
ever, is not the case, as a close inspection of the inscriptions will 
demonstrate. 

The most vexatious point in this investigation is the mere fact 
that the same rule will not always ap})ly in reading the various 
groups, tablets, and columns of these so-called calculiform glyphs. 
Dr Brinton emphatically states that whatever the prevailing rule 
concerning the direction of reading the glyphs might have been, 
the native artists seemed to have no hesitation in disregarding 


May 1897J HOW MAYAN INSCRIPTIONS SHOULD BE READ 147 

it wlien artistic or other reasons presented themselves.* Other 
conservative students have since reached the same conclusion. 
We find on consulting the works of the various students of the 
subject that there is a great divergence of o})inion as to the proper 
method and direction of reading these graven texts. Our first 
dut}^, therefore, is to sum up the opinions and evidence produced 
by each authority, to classify them under the various headings, 
then to recapitulate the evidence and results thereby obtained 
and deduct our matured conclusions from the ground covered. 
For convenience we have classified the various methods proposed 
as Plan i, ii, iii, iv, and v, by which names we shall refer to them 
in the following pages: 

Plan I —A. P. Maudslay was of the opinion that the inscrip¬ 
tions or tablets should be read in double columns, from left to 
right and from top to bottom ; also that the large figure at the 
upper lefthand corner of many of the inscriptions was, as he 
calls it, “ the initial scroll of the series.” He believed that in- 
scri})tions containing this peculiar heading, and this regular 
series of portraits underneath, generally began Avith the same 
formula, which extended usually through these six or seA^en 
squares. His reason for this Avas that in the sixth square, or 
sometimes in the latter half of the sixth square, is found a 
human face, usually in profile, enclosed in a frame or cartouch.* 
Dr Cyrus Thomas thought that the large character at the upper 
lefthand corner of the Palenque tablet Avas used much in the 
same Avay as Ave use capital letters, and that the inscriptions are 
read either in columns from the top dowiiAvard, or in lines, from 
the left to the right.^ He found that in the Manuscript Troano 
the characters are, as a general rule, placed in columns, to be read 
from the top doAViiAvard ; hut that, where circumstances require 
it, they are placed in lines, to be read from left to right. He 
thinks that Ave Avould be justified in assuming that the same 
rule applies to the tablets. But later in his Avork. after a close 
examination of the Palenque tablet of the “ Cross,” and noting 
the first seven characters of thetAVO columns immediately beloAV 
the large initial, he seems to have changed his mind and sug- 

lA Primer of Mayan Hieroglyphics, University of Penna., series of Phil. Lit. and 
Areii., vol. iii. No 2, p. 79. 

2 p:xpIorations of the Rains and Site of Copan, Central America,, in Proc. Roy. Geog. 
Soc , Sept., 1886, p. 593. 

3 A Study of tlie Manuscript Troano, Washington, 1882, p. 137. 



148 


THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST 


[ Vol. X 


gests’ that the remaining characters of tliese two columns be 
read by twos to the bottom, and to continue the same way 
throughout the tablet, taking each double column from top to 
bottom. This latter suggestion for the reading of double col¬ 
umns will correspond with Mr Maudslay’s scheme, and we will 
therefore place it under this heading (Plan i). His first sug¬ 
gestion we will classify under Plan iii. Dr Thomas also says 
that the lines and columns in the middle portion of the tablet 
should read from the left to the right along the lines until a 
column is reached, and then down the column. 

Plan II —Dr Brintou believes that the proper reading of the 
tablets (such as the Tablet of the “ Cross ”) is to begin at the 
top of the two righthand columns, read them together down¬ 
ward, then the next two to the left in a similar manner; but the 
last two on the left, those headed by the great Pax^ should be 
read from below upward. He thinks that this plan alone cor¬ 
responds with the natural sequences of the groups of glyphs, 
and that the huge sign at the upper lefthand corner, instead of 
being the “ initial ” glyph, is in reality the terminal.^ We learn 
from Dr Forstemann® that in manuscripts in long computations 
the numeral elements are to be read from below upward, and 
from right to left. This plan differs from Dr Brinton’s scheme, 
but would agree in his reading of the two columns headed by 
the large glyph, which he reads from below" upward, making the 
large character the terminal. 

Plan III —Dr Thomas’ first suggestion * was that when the char¬ 
acters were arranged in lines, of reading from left to right, and 
when ill columns from top to bottom. This was also tlie opinion 
of M. Pousse,“ while Leon de Rosny also expressed his opinion 
that the characters should be read from left to right.® Professor 
E. S. Holden arrived at tlie same conclusion by his mathematical 
method of examination,^ and he further says that in the case of 


1 Ibid., p. 200. 

2 A Primer of Mayan Hieroglyphics, p. 136; also Ancient Phonetic Alphabet of Yuca¬ 
tan, p. 6. 

3 Zur Entzifferung der Mayahandschriften, No. ii, Dresden, January, 1891. 

4 A Study of the Manuscript Tro.ano, op. cit., p. 137. 

5 Archives de la Soc. Amer. de France, 1887, pp 27, 28, 113, et seq. 

6 Essai sur le D6chiffrement de I’Ecriture Hieratique de I’Am^rique Centrale, folio, 
Paris, 1876. 

7 Studies in Central American Picture-writing, First Annual Report of the Bureau 
Ethnology, p. 223. 



May 1807] HOW MAYAN INSCHIPTIONS SilOULI) BE READ 


149 


coluiDDs they were to be read from tlie top to tlie bottom. In 
the case of tablets, they were to be read just as tlie present page 
is written. Wilson believed that the tablets were to be read in 
columns from the top to the bottom and in manuscrijits from 
left to right.* Mr M. II. Saville^ was of the opinion that the 
large glyph at the up])er leftband corner was the Pax gly])b, 
and that it was the initial character of the series. lie also points 
out a number of inscriptions which are beaded by Pax in a modi¬ 
fied form. He does not, however, exjiress an opinion as to the 
method of reading the remainder of the inscriptions. 

Plan IV —Dr P. J. J. Valentini was of the opinion that the in¬ 
scriptions were to be read from the left to the right in the co¬ 
lumnar direction,^ and in the case of the double columns these 
are to be read in double columns down to the point where the 
column of portraits sto}). Beyond this point the columns should 
be read separateh% for they stand in this way throughout the 
tablet,^ according to bis opinion. 

Plan V —Brasseur de Bourbourg devoted much attention to 
the direction of reading the glyphs in the manuscripts, and was 
greatly influenced b}^ the direction in which the figures ajipeared 
to be moving and the way the faces were turned, which in most 
instances is toward the left. He therefore concluded^ that the 
characters should be read by lines, from right to left, and by 
columns, from the bottom ujiward ; in wdiich method of reading 
he was followed by Bollaert.® This ])lan agrees perfectly with 
the method of reading the long computations of numerical ele¬ 
ments in the Dresden Codex (])ages 61-64, 69-78) ])ointed out by 
Dr Forstemann. The numerals found in connection with the 
figures of snakes on these pages of the Dresden Codex are to he 
read from the right to the left, and from below upward.' 

It is of utmost importance that we find out which one of these 
five diversified methods is the correct one. Until tins point is 


1 Pre-historic Man, p. 378, et seq. 

2 A Comparative Study of the Graven Glyphs of Copan and Quirigua, Jour Am. Folk¬ 
lore, July-Septembt-r, 1894, p. 238. 

3 Professor Valentini adds that this is also the arrangement as stated by Landa, p.44. 

4 Analysis of the Pictorial Text Inscribed on Two Palenque Tablets, Proc. Amer. 
Antiq. Soc., Worcester, Mass., 1896, part ii, p. 6. 

5 Introduction to the Codex Troano, by the Abb6 Brasseur de Bourbourg, published 
by the French government in 1869. 

6 Exam, of Cent. Am. Hier., 306. 

7 Zur Entzifferung der Mayahandschriften, No. ii, Dresden, January, 1891. 


/ 



150 


THE AMEllICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST 


[Vol. X 


settled, it is impossible to know the correct serial arrangement of 
the cartouches in the inscriptions. This can he done only hy 
close examination and study, not only of the Palenque tablets, 
but also of others, from various localities, in order that some 
definite conclusion may be obtained by having at our disposal 
all possible data. It is immaterial in this investigation as to 
whether these calculiform glyphs occurring in the graven texts 
are phonetic, ideographic, or intermixed. One fact is certain, 
and that is, that whatever form was used, we shall have grouj^s 
or assemblages of glyphs recurring in the inscription when the 
same incident, name, or idea is written, and that these recur¬ 
rences must be governed by certain fixed laws which can be 
learned only by a close study and analysis of characters and 
their occurrences and sequences in the inscriptions. Then, again, 
there must be names of deities, kings, priests, etc, which would 
recur from time to time in the graven texts, and these can easily 
be noted by comparison and by the frequency of their occur¬ 
rence. There are a number of noteworthy points about these 
records on the manuscripts and tablets Avhich should at once 
attract the attention of the student. Some of these have pre¬ 
viously been pointed out by Dr Brinton, and to these we will 
add some others which have come under our observation: 

1. The faces of deities, priests, etc, in the mural inscriptions 
and manuscripts are almost always drawn facing the left. 

2. The apparent movement of the principal figures, both in 
the inscriptions and the manuscripts, is generally from the right 
to the left. 

3. The more important parts of the composite characters are 
placed on the right side, and the affixes added on the left side. 

4. In writing the numerals, the bars re])resenting fives are 
placed to the right, and the dots meaning units are placed to 
the left. 

These four points would make one infer that the lines were 
written from the right to the left, but we do not believe that we 
are justified in assuming such a conclusion from such insufficient 
data. We will mention below a few points which seem to have 
an important bearing on the direction for reading the inscriptions. 

5. In not less than thirteen of the principal inscriptions we 
find at the upper lefthand corner a glyph of larger dimensions 
than those following which, with various modifications and orna¬ 
mentations, bears a great resemblance to Pax, 


May 1897] HOW MAYAN INSCRIPTIONS SHOULD BE READ 151 

(). Direct!}^ under this enlarged gly[)h, at the n[)per lefthaiul 
corner, follow a series of portraits which, with their ornamenta¬ 
tion and atlixes, take the space of two columns. 

7. A close examination of the Palenqne tablet will show that 
in man 3 ^ cases the characters are found in pairs or groups, which 
recur frequently throughout the inscription. 

8. ‘ These pairs and groups of characters are always arranged 
in such a way that the reading of the inscription by double col¬ 
umns is not interfered with. Should one character of a pair be 
on the righthand side on one line, the other one will be found 
on the left side on the line immediately below, following the usual 
sequence. 

9. These pairs are found also in the single vertical columns 
one above the other, showing that the single vertical column 
reading is from top to bottom, or for a transverse single line from 
left to right. 

10. The divergence in the direction of reading on some of the 
inscri})tions and manuscripts was not, we believe, caused by the 
carelessness or capriciousness of the ancient sculptor, but in 
accordance with fixed laws, a few of which have been discovered. 

11. It will be found that all these inscriptions, when in the 
shape of a tablet, are of such number of vertical columns that it 
can be divided by two without a remainder. In other words, it 
can be read by double columns without having an extra column 
left at the end. They are generally of two, four, six, or more 
columns, but always of some even number. 

12. In some of the inscriptions (for example, the bas-relief of 
Bernouilli) we find a wider spacing between each set of double 
vertical columns, as if to give greater prominence to each double 
set, so that they can be followed and read with greater ease. 

Let us now turn our attention to the well known Palenque 
tablet of the “ Cross.” One can notice at a glance at this inscrip¬ 
tion tliat there is a large glyph at the upper lefthand corner 
whicli takes up the space of four ordinary squares. We find tins 
in no other corner. Then directly below this we find seven com¬ 
pound glyphs taking up the space of two regular squares. Six 
of these contain the j^rofile of a head conjoined with other glyj)hs. 
The rest of the group are of uniform size, except that those sur¬ 
rounding the cross are of a smaller type than those on the tablets 
on each side. One cannot fail to admire the extreme regularity 


152 


THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST 


[Vol. X 


and uniformity of tliese tablets and wonder at the skill shown 
by the ancient sculptor. When u]y attention was first attracted 
to the study b}^ the researches of Professor Holden it seemed 
enigmatical to me iiow he deduced his conclusions about the 
direction of reading th. gly})hs from his mathematical examina¬ 
tion of the Palenque tablets. Being trained in mathematical and 
astronomical research, his conclusions on such a subject seemed 
to me at that time, on this point, unassailable; nevertheless un¬ 
satisfactory. Now, it seems that we have found the reason for 
this. If the reader will turn to pages 221-223 of his work \ it 
will be found that his studies in regard to the direction of read¬ 
ing the glyphs were mostly concentrated on the righthand side 
of the Palenque tablet of the “Cross,” and but little attention 
was paid to the peculiar initial heading on the lefthand side 
tablet or the row of double-column glyphs directly beneatli the 
heading. Students familiar with the tablets will readily under¬ 
stand the point wliich we mean, for this peculiar arrangement 
at the upper lefthand corner contains the key to the whole 
enigma. 

We do not doubt that had Professor Holden devoted the same 
study to the lefthand tablet as he did to the righthand side, the 
results and his conclusions deduced therefrom would have been 
vastly different. The student habituated to our use of large 
initial capital letters at the upper lefthand corner in our modern 
magazines and books naturally assumes that these inscriptions 
are to be read from left to right, for we generally find in the 
upper lefthand corner a hieroglyph larger than any of the others, 
as in the case of the Palenque tablet. It is a noticeable fact that 
we never see these large forms in any other corner (as at the 
right side or at either of the lower corners). From the valuable 
researches of Mr Saville*'^ and from other sources we learn tliat 
many of the Mayan inscriptions have the enlarged glyph re¬ 
sembling Pax at the upper lefthand corner. Let us carefully go 
through the various inscriptions and find out how many times 
this occurs and see what results can be deduced. The following 
inscriptions and tablets are all headed b}^ the large glyph re¬ 
sembling Pax, differing only in the ornamentation and affixes: 


1 Studies in Centi’al American Picture-writing, op. cit. 

2 A Comparative Study of the Graven Glyphs of Copan and Quirigua, op. cit. 




May 1897] HOW MAYAN INSCRIPTIOxNS SHOULD RE READ 


153 


1. Tiiscription on Stela A, Copan, Honduras. 

2. Inscription on Altar S, Copan, Honduras. 

3. Inscription on Stela I, Copan, Honduras. 

4. Inscription on Stela F, (iniri^ua, Guatemala. 

5. Inscription on Tablet of the “ Ch’oss,” F^oenqne, Chiapas. 

(). Inscription on Stela C, Coi)an, Honduras (south side). 

7. Inscription on Stela C, Copan, Honduras (north side). 

8. Inscription on the hack wall of Altar No. 3, Falenqne, Chiai)as. 

9. Inscription on the south side of monolith at (iiiirigna, Guatemala, 

Mandslay’s plate iii.‘ 

10. In.scri})tion on the south side of monolith at (iuirigiia, Guatemala, 

iNIaudslay’s plate xrv. 

11. Inscription at Copan, Honduras, Maudslay’s plate xvr. 

12. Heading of an inscription on the side of a monolith at Quirigua, 

Guatemala, IMaudslay’s plate xvii. 

13. Heading of an inscription on a vase from Quiche tomb, Guatemala.'^ 

Thus we have, at the very least, thirteen iiiii)ortant inscrip¬ 
tions bearing this peculiar heading at the upper lefthaiul corner. 
We can see no valid reason why these large characters should 
be the terminals of the inscri})tions, as Dr Brinton suggests. As 
a matter of fact, all the evidence seems to point the o})posite 
way, and we have no hesitation in acce[)ting these large head¬ 
ings as the initial glyi)hs of the series. 

J^et ns now make a close examination of the various inscrip¬ 
tions and see if we cannot find some occurrences and se(jnences 
of the various characters which will help us in deciding the cor¬ 
rect direction for reading the graven texts. In our investigation 
we \vill take advantage of the i)ecnliar se(inences in the Falenqne 
tablet, so ablv [)ointed out b}^ Professor Holden^ and augmented 
and continued b}^ Dr Cyrus Thomas.‘ The latter has clearly 
shown by these sequences that Plan r is the correct method of 
reading the Palenqne tablet; consequently some re])etition is 
necessary in again demonstrating that point. We will present 
the se(iuence of the })airs and grou})S of characters in such a 
way that the reader may see at a glance the great im})ortance 
they have in connection with the general direction of reading 
the inscri])tion. Our attention for the present will be confined 

1 The plates of Mr Maudslay are presented in his article in the Proceedings of the 
Roy. Geog. Soc., London, Sept., 1886. 

2 Figured by Dr Brinton in his Primer of Mayan Hieroglyphs, p. 140. 

3 Op cit., 22.3. 

4 Op. cit , 200. 

20 



154 


THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST 


[Vol. X 


to tlie one inscription, commonly known as the Palenque tablet 
of the “ Cross.” 

W e ])resent in figure 1 the index diagram used Dr Ran 
for locating the various characters, which we have changed by 
separating it into double columns, as in A B, C D, E F, etc, so as 
to show to greater advantage the pairs and sequences that occur 
in the tablet. According to this plan, we have three double 
columns on each side of the central figures. If Plan i be correct. 



1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 
11 
12 

13 

14 

15 

16 
17 


Fig. I. 


we will find these characters occurring in pairs, which must fall 
in the correct columns. Bet us try this and take, for instance, 
the two characters at the upper lelthand corner of the righthand 
tablet, S 1, T 1. Let us call S 1 “A,” and T 1 “74,” and at each 
place where this pair occurs we will place the letters A and B. 
By referring to figure 1 it can readily be seen that this pair 
occurs in S 1, T 1; W^ 3, X 3; W' 17, X 17; U 6, V 6, and U 16, 
^ lb a total of five times. Ihese pairs are found always on 
the same line, and always in the columns to which the}" belong, 
according to our theory of reading by double columns in Plan i. 















































































































jNIay 1897] JK)W MAYAN INSCIIIITIONS SHOULD BE READ 


le05 


and no exception is found. Now, if one ol the })<iir should occur 
on one line at the right, and the other on the line below, at the 
lelt, it would only tend to strengthen our evidence. This, how¬ 
ever, does occur lour times. referring to figure 2 we find at 
the righthand side of the double column in T 7 our character 
“.-1,” and, on the next line below, at the left side in the square 
S 8, our character just as it should be, making the pair of 
characters A B follow each other correctly in T 7, S 8: but this 



A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

F 









2 








3 








4 







7 

5 




C 



D 

6 



D 

7 


E 

7 

7 



/ 




A 

8 






B 


9 








10 









II 









12 









13 





C 




14 




D 




7 

15 







/ 

C 

16 







D 

7 

17 







7 

1 



may be a mere coincidence. Perhaps we may find others. On 
closely examining our figure 2, we find it occurs again in the 
same way in V 11, U 12; T 15, S 16, and F 7, E 8. This makes 
a total of nine pairs for the characters A B. We think that the 
mere sequence of the two characters A B would be sufficient to 
prove this, but to make sure of it we will try another pair of 
glyphs, and take W 1, X 1. We will call W 1 “C,” and X 1 “ 7).” 
By referring to figure 1, we learn that this pair is found in W 1, 
X 1; W 15, X 15; U 3, V 3; S 12, T 12 ; E 5, D 5—a total on the 
same horizontal line of five times in the tablet, or six if we count 



























































































































156 


THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST 


[Vol. X 


S 6, T 6 (the latter part of which is a combination of the char¬ 
acters Avhich, for convenience, we call D and E). Now, let us 
see if this pair is also found on different transversal lines and in 
correct order, according to tlie double-column theory. We find 
it that way in X 11, W 12; F 15, E 16; D 5, E 6, and D 13, E 
14—a total of four times, as shown on our figure 2. This makes 
a total of ten pairs for the characters C D. It is a noticeable fact 
also that the same pair is found in R 2, R 3, proving that these 
single vertical columns are to be read from top to bottom. 

Another pair of glyphs commonly associated with each other 
is found in U 4, V 4 (figure 1). Let us call the character U 4 
and V 4 “A",” and note the occurrences of this pair in the tab¬ 
let. On referring to our figure 1, we find it occurs in U 4, V 4; 
W 2, X 2; U 9, F 9—a total of three times on the same line. We 
also find it in the correct order, but on different transversal lines, 
in X 12, W 13; T 6, S 7, and V 14, U 15, as shown in figure 2, 
making in all a total of six pairs, three on the same horizontal 
line and three on different transversal lines. 

The pair W 12, X 12 also is found frequently in the tablet. 
We have already named the character W 12 as ’’ and the 
character X 12 as By referring to figure 1, we find this 

pair occurs in W 12, X 12; U 14, V 14; in T 6 ; E 16, F 16, and 
C 6, D 6. It also is found on different transversal lines in X 1, 
W 2; V 3, U 4, and F 5, E 6, as shown in figure 2, making a 
total of eight times. 

It is a noticeable fact that tliese pairs do not occur at any time 
in the wrong columns, otherwise it would, if occurring often, or 
even once (although this might occur by mere coincidence), de¬ 
stroy our evidence. It is surprising also that the characters fol¬ 
low each other so correctly when on different transversal lines, 
one above at the right, and the other below at the left-hand side 
of the double column. 

The evidence seems to accumulate, the deeper we go into the 
matter. Let us now take a group of three characters and find 
out if the sequence is correctly carried out. Take the characters 
W 1, X 1, W 2, which are placed in this position 

C D 
E 

with each other. By referring to our figure 3 we find these three 


May 1897] H()W MAYAN INSCRIPTrONS SHOULD BE READ 


157 


characters at tlie upper righthand corner, which we liave pre¬ 
viously called C D E. Now, if this same comhination can he 
found occurring in rotation a number of times in the tablet, our 
evidence is com})lete. referring to figure 3 we find it occurs 
not fewer than seven times in correct rotation as follows: \V 1, 
X 1, W 2; U 3, V 3, U 4; S 6, T G; V 13, U 14, V 14; E 5, F 5, 
E G; D 5, C G, 1) G; 1) 13, C 14, 1) 14, and F 15, E IG, F 16. ' In 
the group V 13, U 14, V 14, and at three other places on the same 


A B CD E F 



1 
2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 
11 
12 

13 

14 

15 

16 
17 

Fig. 3. 


ST U V W X 



tablet, as shown in figure 3, we find the order reversed in this 
manner— 

C 

D E 

which is absolutely correct according to the sequence of the 
characters. 

We will now select a group of four characters to test the se¬ 
quence. Let us take W 1, X 1, and W 2, X 2, which, by refer¬ 
ring to figure 3, we find at the upper righthand corner, marked 
C D E F, according to our former plan. We find these four 
























































































































158 


THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST 


[Vol. X 


characters following each other in the correct secjnence, in W 1, 
X 1, W 2, X 2; U 3, V 3, U 4, V 4; S 6/r 6, S 7, and V 13, U 14, 
V 14, U 15. The last combination takes a jieculiar shape as 
follows: 

C 

D E 
F 

but a close examination will prove that tlie sequence of the char¬ 
acters is correct and in accordance with the double-column 
theory. Finally, let us take a large grouj) of six characters, as 
C D E F A B, the six characters at the upper righthand corner 
of the tablet, as shown in figure 3, in the squares W 1, X 1 ; 
W 2, X 2; W 3, X 3. We find this same group in S 6, T 6, S 7, 
T 7, S 8, making the compound glyph T 6 stand for both D and E, 
which are combined in one character (figure 3). The first group 
is found in this shape— 

C D 
E F 
A B 

and the second as follows: 

C DE 
F A 
B 

We find nearly this same combination in three other places in 
this tablet, one in this form : 

C D 
E 

F A 
B 

This contains another character between the characters E and F. 
Then, again, we find another, as follows, 

C 

D E 
F 
A 


B 


^lay 1897] HOW MAYAN INSCRIPTIONS SHOULD BK READ 


159 


ill whicli a new diameter is placed between the characters F 
and A. We also find one more group as follows, 

C I) 

F 

A B 

where we find five of our characters with one new form intro¬ 
duced between F and A, as in the last-mentioned grou[). 

liCt us now examine another Palenquean inscri[)tion, the tablet 
on the hack wall of the altar, Casa No. 3, forming the frontispiece 
of Stephen’s “Incidents of Travel in Central America,” vol. ii. 
We find in this inscription that there are four columns on each 
side of the central figure, which agrees perfectly with the jdan of 
reading by double columns. Here we find again the large initial 
glyiih and the series of double portrait characters beneath, tak¬ 
ing U]) the space of two squares each. The pairs and sequences 
do not occur so frequently in this tablet as in the other, but we 
find enough to verify our former results. We find in the sciuares 
N 1, 0 1, our pair D E in the correct order and columns, and we 
find it again in C 15, I) 15. In the square A 10 we find a char¬ 
acter which we will call “ d/,” and in B 10 another, which we will 
call “ T^V’ making the pair W F in the correct double columns. 
Now, at the bottom of the B column we again find the character 
M,and on looking uj) at the beginning of the next set of double 
columns we find its mate, the character F, in C 1, thus making 
a key or connection between the two sets of double columns. 
We find this same form of connecting link on the righthand side 
of the same tablet. At the bottom of the second column we find 
our character C, and at the top of the columns three and four 
(N 1, O 1) our characters D and E, making the three characters 
C, I), and E follow each other exactly as they should, according 
to the theory of reading by double columns. We have not the 
slightest doubt but that a close examination of all the other 
tablets and inscriptions will bring exactly the same results. Lack 
of space, however, will jirevent us from continuing these com¬ 
parisons. 

In looking over Rosny’s Les Documents Ecrits de TjAiitiquIte 
Americdioe'^ we find a most remarkahle corroboration of this the- 

1 Les Documents Ecrits de L' Antlquite Americaine, by L6on De Rosny; Memoires de la 
Soc etf. d'Elhnotiraphie, No. S, Pixrifi, IS82. In the appeivlix to this valuable work Pro¬ 
fessor Rosny gives a description of this interesting inscription (page 95), supplemented 
by four chromolithographs from photographs made by the author. 



160 


THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST 


[VoL X 


ory of reading tlie inscriptions by double columns. If the reader 
will refer to this work and examine plate 10-11 of the Bas-relief 
of Bernouilli it may at once be seen. This valuable inscription 
was called to the attention of Professor Kosny while at Dresden 
by Dr Meyer, who said that it had been deposited at the Musee 
Ethnographique at Bfile. Rosny visited the museum and photo¬ 
graphed and described the inscription, which he named Bas-relief 
Yucateque de Bernouilli. It is composed of three fragments of 
sculptured panels of Campeche wood, measuring 1 meter 80 
centimeters in height, and was discovered at Tikal, northeast of 
Lake Feten, Guatemala. The principal panel gives a represen¬ 
tation of a priest or other important personage clothed in gar¬ 
ments covered with a profusion of rich ornaments and holding 
in one hand a long spear or lance. On each side of the central 
figure are interesting inscriptions ; that on the left contains four 
columns of seven cartouches each, making 28 squares; the one 
on the right contains four columns of nine cartouches each, or 
a total of 36 squares. To those familiar with the other inscrip¬ 
tions there is nothing remarkable in all this, but if we examine 
the inscriptions closely we find that each set of double columns 
is separated from the other one by a wide interval. This is not 
fortuitous, for we find it is the same on both the right and left 
sides, with fully as wide a space as we have shown in figures 1, 
2, and 3 of the Palenque tablets, in which case it was done 
merely to demonstrate more clearly the sequences and groups of 
characters. This conspicuous and plainly marked separation of 
the double columns in the bas-relief of Bernouilli, we think, is 
an unassailable proof of the correctness of our theory and should 
leave no further doubt on the subject. 

To recapitulate, we must emphatically state that we find no 
evidence worthy of consideration to support Plans ii, iii, iv, and 
V as to the direction of reading the mural inscriptions of the 
Mayas. The sequences and progression of the pairs and groups 
of characters in the inscriptions all point to one method of read¬ 
ing—that of interpreting by double columns where it can be 
done, as in tablets or assemblages of characters, when in hori¬ 
zontal lines from the left to the right, and in vertical lines from 
the top to the bottom. Where the horizontal and vertical lines 
form a right angle, as at the lefthand side of the central figures 
of the Palenque tablet of the “ Cross,” it should be read from the 


INIay 1897] HOW MAYAN INSCRIPTIONS SHOULD BE READ 161 

lefthand side to the right, then down the vertical line to the 
bottom. One objection might be brouglit forward by asking 
how we would read the right angle of glyphs on the righthand 
side of the central ligures in the tablet of the “ Cross.” This, we 
think, was formed in tliis way merely to conform with the one 
on tlie opposite side, so as not to mar the regular and artistic 
ap[)earance of the whole inscrijition. It should be read from the 
left to the right along the horizontal line and then down the 
vertical column. Such divergences to the general rule are some¬ 
times necessary when a picturesque and artistic effect for the 
whole group was desired by the ancient sculptor. We can find 
some points which corroborate our conclusions from the sequence 
and rubrication in the ancient Mayan naanuscri[)ts. Many pages 
of these codices are divided into small divisions or compartments 
hy red lines which separate the various sentences or paragraphs, 
consisting usually of four or six characters. 


A 

A B 

A B 

A 

B 

C D 

C D 

B 

C 



c 

D 



D 


B A 

H 

L 

M 

W A 

R N 

A 

A 

A 

R S 


R 

R 

R 



P 

K 

T 



Fig. 4. Fig 5. 

In figures 4, 5, and 6 we show the general arrangement of 
these small divisions and compartments which make iq) each 
page in the manuscri[)ts, and beneath, at the center or at each 
side, are usually placed two pictures. We have lettered the 
characters to show the order and sequence. T.et us first examine 
figured. This arrangement was i)ointed out by M. Pousse' as 
being the usual order in many [)lates in the manuscripts. The 
reader will notice that it corres[)onds to a certain extent with 
the one used in the Palenque tablet, with the exception of the 
two outside columns which are to be read from top to bottom in 
single vertical columns. 

It is to the method of reading the two groups of four characters 
each that we wish to call attention. In this method we read 


1 Archives de la Societe Americaine de France, 1887, pp 27 et seq. 


21 





















/J: 

-f" [ 

^ f3 190/ 


162 THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST [Vol. X 

the first two characters from left to right, and then the two im¬ 
mediately helow. Then we take the next two to the right above 
and the next two below, reading in double columns from left to 

right and from top to bottom, as in 
the Palenque tablet. We find this 
order reversed in figures 5 and 6, in 
which Dr Thomas' has pointed out 
the general arrangement for the char¬ 
acters in certain plates in the Manu¬ 
script Troano. But by referring to 
figures 4, 5, and 6 it can readily be 
seen that parts of each page are to be read from top to bottom 
in single columns when so arranged, just as we do in the inscrip¬ 
tions, and also that other portions of each page are to be read in 
double columns from left to right and from top to bottom. 

In closing, we may add that in our opinion sufficient evidence 
has been presented to satisfy any one beyond a reasonable doubt 
as to the correct method of reading the inscriptions. 


H A 

H 

H A 

H 

R K 

A 

R K 

A 


N 


L 


D 


T 


Fig. 6. 


1 Op. cit., pp. 138, 140. 



















♦ 

f 

V 

i’ 


V, 

. ‘O ■■ 


•4* , 

, 

■ ' Si* ^ 

<• 

• • ' y' 

. . - y 

. . ■■' i»* - * ^ 'aI 

1 

tr ■ 


i . * ^ ’4, 


% i I 




•V ' 




.4 

•V 

• ''*.. ^,. ••'■ /*- 
» , V 

V <„ 

4 

, 

• 

t ««i^ 

* 

• ‘ • 

. ' • • • 


# V p » 


•?- 


1 


I •• 



^f- 


4 ( 


•r? 




* » 



I . *t r ' 

- • 1 ■* ^ • . j , 




;.H. 




■. -‘V ■■:, 



/•i:‘T-VnHH 
yr/¥.» * 

-% ?^ - • iiUH 






4 ••♦. 


- A 


M 


• # 




^ ;-*?v.'^ >^^«i 


* ? • 



\* r 




rsiiln 



► r 


■j 


. \ 


> 


• )•' 


« •. 


». ^ 







'if 


.4 



•/ » v{.. 

u>rr ;x , 

j * • 

,• t'SLt 







■' tii '■- 

jM:*'«, • .^ itCiiiiLo*'y• 





, '* ft 


•*. s 


* 




t: 




- i ». 1 . ^ 





a 





-1* 

''’ ''jK,;;i>^iiiL 


•• » 






CONGRESS 


LIBRARY 0 













